Cord

Driving home on Friday I noticed my truck had a very rough idle. The miss would drop the engine speed and then go away. Part way home the engine totally laid down with a major misfire. At first I thought it was the water ingestion issue, but the problem isn't going away. I'm pretty sure that the water took out a plug. This is my third set of plugs in 30,000 miles. I'm pretty disgusted to say the least. The last time the plug formed a carbon trail down the side of the insulator. I'm assuming the current plug either failed the same way or the insulator cracked. Is there one plug that is generally the culprit or do I just change them all? I'd rather just change the one because there's only 10k miles on the current set.

papa tiger

Is it coming loose in its hole ? Are u using dielectric for the cops ?

SkiSmuggs

11 ft/lbs of torque for the plugs is just snug. More and you crack the porcelain. The SP-534 seems as good as any and are cheap from Rock Auto.

brucesears

I think you're tightening them too much, and you need to wipe dielectric grease on the inside of the COP's, not gobs, but cover completely on the inside.

Cord

Due to back issues, I can't service my truck. Plugs have been installed by either a local shop or the dealer. Sucks, but it's the way it is.

SkiSmuggs

Tell your mechanic to only torque to 11 ft/lbs or he may crack the porcelain.

papa tiger

Keep a couple in the glove compartment an the plug wrench + extension. Dry gas fuels always needed closed up gaps.

Cord

Well, dealer says that it was the #1 cylinder with a missfire, but they'll have to keep the truck overnight for "additional diagnostics". I'm not going to let them try selling me a coil pack when I'm out of warranty. I told him to replace the plug. He was rather taken back and didn't want to do it. Have techs these days lost total ability to make a diagnosis or does everything need to go to engineering?

BlueFlameMetallicFX4

" Have techs these days lost total ability to make a diagnosis or does everything need to go to engineering?"

It's hard to find an experienced mechanic these days, one that diagnose with his experience and knowledge, not a damn scan tool!

papa tiger

Thing is a code will help to point the direction of a. Needed repair but if it isnt electronic in nature it needs hands on. A hard cold motor start can be so many things. Funky Maf. Dirty plugs, cracked intake tube, most anything.